I'm going to have to begin today's post with an apology for yesterday. It seems I am a year behind! I didn't even give the 2016 I typed last night a second thought until I was putting in today's date and realized I was going to do it again! So.....sorry for my lapse yesterday and whew! I'm once again living in the current year. :-)
Now for today....it is hard to know where to begin. If I were to start at the end I'd say that we had the best day ever and while walking home down our lane tonight actually saw two frogs fornicating! That was a first! But....if I were to start at the beginning I'd say that we were both prepped up for fun and ready for a day of adventure. I guess the beginning is the best place to start as the story does kind of build on itself...
We set out in search of a couple of motorbike taxis because we had a number of errands and things on our 'to do' list. We were tempted by taxi drivers with cars as the skies threatened rain (it is the rainy season after all) but getting around Ubud in a car can be a very challenging task when traffic is at it's peak which is much of the afternoon! Eventually we were able to talk a couple of taxi drivers into leaving their cars and getting their bikes. We negotiated a fair rate for 4-5 hours of their time and I left with Eddie (or Eddie Handsome as he introduced himself to me). His bike was at his house in his village just a "few minutes away". Lynda left with her driver to drop his car and retrieve his bike too. The difference was that his bike was much closer than Eddies! So....there I was.....in the car with Eddie.....no one in the world knowing who he is or where we're headed. First we left the city of Ubud and then we turned right onto a small track at which time he said, "we're in my village now". I looked out the window and replied, "you live in a graveyard?" Eddie laughed but said nothing...not sure if he hadn't understood me or if I should begin to worry! Next we passed a large structure that Eddie identified as the location of the cock fights (illegal). This structure was not hidden away at all but right out in the open...but as I type that....it was kind of hidden away in that it was in the middle of nowhere which is the same place we were! Next we turned off that small track onto an even smaller lane (none of this is paved by the way) and followed it for a few more minutes. There were moments that I wondered where my head was but then I would see another kid on a bike or someone waving to Eddie and my anxiety would subside. Eventually Eddie pulled off to the side of the laneway and said I could get out. There was nothing around! Jeez...there comes the anxiety again! But not to worry...I just had to get out of the car so Eddie could park it inside the building that is just wide enough for the vehicle to fit and for him to be able to squeeze out his drivers door. Once he had his car safely stored away he said, "now you walk with me". I asked where we were going and he replied, "to get my bike - it is at my house." Oh ya, I remembered we were heading somewhere with a purpose. LOL. So off we set. We walked for a little way on a narrow little path before coming to a section of the path that was paved with lovely stonework and on the left of this path that had suddenly become a beautiful road was an exquisite door that Eddie opened and disappeared into. He didn't invite me inside but left the doors open so I could see inside to the courtyard and the several buildings that were behind the door/gate. A moment later another man (who turned out to be Eddie's brother which explains why they looked so much alike) came out the door, introduced himself, asked how I'd met Eddie, and then said he was off on his walk at the same time as his daughter poked her head out of the door too. Within seconds of the brother leaving Eddie returned with two helmets in hand and a minute after that he and I were perched atop his bike and headed back into Ubud to the location we'd planned to meet Lynda and her driver. We zipped over the lane and back onto the track and past the cock fighting place and through the graveyard and back onto the road. All the while I was hanging on for dear life because none of those roads I just described are paved or smooth! Keep in mind too that I am not a seasoned motorbike rider; in fact this is the third time I've ever been on the back of a bike! But Eddie was a good driver and he was having fun with me on the back of his bike. Maybe he was having so much fun because I'm bigger than the average Balinese and so fitting my butt (and boobs) on the back of that bike meant that Eddie and I were in pretty close quarters! On top of that, ever time we went up or down a hill or over a serious bump I would hang on with my legs as tightly as I did with my hands! Now that I think of it...no wonder Eddie was having such a fun day! LOL. Before we got back to where we were supposed to meet Lynda the rain started and within a couple of minutes that rain had turned into a torrent. Luckily we were just a few doors from our destination and so Eddie pulled over where there was shelter, got his rain poncho out of the bike and gave it to me to wear so I could walk the rest of the way. He'd meet me there when the rain subsided a little.
Lynda and I were meeting at the Goddess on the Go store as I was looking for another pair of leggings and as luck would have it Lynda managed to find a gorgeous new top there too. Eventually the rain let up but before it did we had time to shop and then to spend a little time at the Turkish restaurant next door to Goddess on the Go. We enjoyed a cup of mint tea and a few little tastes from their menu while our drivers opted for a glass of fresh pineapple juice as thanks for waiting for us in the rain.
Eventually we were off again and this time we were headed up into the rice fields. We wanted to tour some of the roads north of town from the back of a bike as it is such a different perspective than you can get from inside a car. Once we'd toured long enough for some of my parts to actually be on the verge of going numb we arrived at the restaurant we'd chosen for lunch. Kampung Cafe is set in the jungle and surrounded by lush tropical gardens and waterways. It truly is a magical setting and as we'd already had some appetizers at the Turkish place we decided coffee and dessert would be the fare for this stop. It was delicious and once we'd had our fill of sweets and the views we were back on the back of our bikes and headed back into Ubud where we had an appointment at Bali Buddha with our agent. But before I go too far with the story about meeting Komang I should tell you that the rain had started up again on our way back from the restaurant (about 1/2 hour away) and so it was back on with the rain poncho. The only problem was that Eddie just had one poncho and so...you guessed it....I had to get under that poncho with him! Man do we know one another well now! He put on the poncho and then I actually climbed under the back of it. I lay my head on his back and rode blind for the next 15 or so minutes until the rain subsided enough for me to be able to take my head back out. OMG! What an adventure! Lynda (smart Brownie that she is) had come prepared with her own raincoat and so she didn't have to try to fit into her driver's poncho with him!
Komang is the agent we're working with to get our visa extensions and today was the day that we had to give her our passports. Tomorrow morning she will give them to the immigration office and get an appointment for us to go into Denpasar to have our fingerprints taken. (The fingerprints is just for the first extension - subsequent times it will be a simpler process.). Komang has agreed to "sponsor" us and so everything should go according to plan. As soon as the immigration office has our passports in hand tomorrow our visas will be in process for the next 30 days and so we're covered until the middle of February. The appointment for our fingerprints may or may not take place prior to this current visa's expiration date of January 14th. Komang knows that we're planning to be on Gili Jan 13-18 and so she will make the appointment in Denpasar for a date that doesn't conflict with our Gili trip.
Once we were finished with Komang we were back on the bikes and off again. This time we were just touring an area at the top of Hanoman and Monkey Forest. We wanted to stop on the bridge where we could look out over an amazing temple that has a great view point there. All of this was accomplished and for those of you who are on FB you will have seen the video I posted of a small section of that back of the bike ride. I'm still not sure how I managed to stay on the bike while I got my ipad out of my bag and then set it up to video and then to actually run the video! I didn't do a very good job of showing Eddie as I introduced him but I sure got lucky when I aimed backwards over my head and managed to get a clear shot of Lynda on her bike right behind me! I wasn't even sure how far back she might be...but....lucky again! LOL
From the temple view point we were off to the Fish Spa and honestly it was hilarious because I had to give both our drivers directions to find the place. Even with the map they were having a hard time figuring it out. I guess we really do "live" here now!
The Fish Spa deserves to have a pretty significant chunk of this post as it was a definite highlight. Well....actually....the whole day was full of great moments but that fish spa was a memory neither of us will soon forget! We booked ourselves in for the 1/2 hour treatment that consists of a foot wash with lime and sea salt and aromatherapy to ensure all traces of lotions or sunscreen or bug spray are washed from your skin. (They're looking out for the health of their fish!). Once your feet and legs up to your knees are squeaky clean it's into the fish tank. Yes...INTO the fish tank! We'd chosen the medium sized fish and I was the first one into the tank. I stepped into the water and carefully made my way across the bottom of the tank trying not to step on any of the 300+ fish that were in there! I had to get to the other side so Lynda would have room to come in too. As soon as I stopped moving and sat down those little buggers latched on and I almost hit the ceiling! It was like a million tiny little electric nibbles zapping and zapping and zapping you. It didn't hurt at all but it really really tickled! I could not stop laughing! The worker said it was usual for it to tickle and that it would subside in a few minutes. OMG! I was going to be in there for 20 minutes?! How would I last?! Next it was Lynda's turn to join me. She'd been video'ing my entrance to the tank (for FB) and I couldn't tape her from where I was so you'll just have to believe me when I tell you that she almost went crazy. At one point I thought she might crawl out of her skin to get out of the tank! Neither of us could stop laughing and the man who'd had his feet in the large fish tank when we arrived was having so much fun watching us kill ourselves with laughter that he actually video taped us for himself to share with his friends! The workers gave us a sheet describing the value of the fish spa and Lynda read that page like she was an old LP record playing on a 45 speed. (That reference is for those of you who actually remember vinyl - for the rest of you....she sounded like she was in high speed and her voice was kind of squeaky and she kept yelping and all the while she was squirming. In fact she was so wound up that she worked up quite a sweat!). In the end...those little fish had their way with our feet and lower legs for the full 20 minutes and by the time we were down to the final few minutes it was really kind of enjoyable. Those little guys just nibbled and nibbled and tickled and tickled. Too funny! Once we were out of the tank we were than set up with some kind of electromagnetic zapper that we put our feet on. It too is supposed to be good for circulation and overall health. Man...we are going to be soooo healthy! In addition to all the fish and electromagnetic zapping we also enjoyed a shot of kambucha while there as well as a kambucha and chia pudding and a glass of ice water. Honestly....the overall experience was one that everyone should have a chance at. In fact, we're here long enough....I'm sure I'll do it again. Not so sure about Lynda though! LOL
From the fish spa we were about done for the day and so it was back home where we trundled down our little alley to put our feet up for a few minutes.
Once we were rested it was time to head out for dinner (as though we hadn't already eaten enough for the day!). There are just so many great restaurants here that we didn't want to miss out an opportunity for a meal. :-). We ended up at a spot a little ways up Monkey Forest road and dinner was excellent once again but it was on the way home that was really the icing on the cake! We were passing by a little place called the Art Cafe and in it was two guys playing guitar and singing. They sounded sooooo good we just had to stop and that is where we stayed until 10 pm tonight. They could play anything you asked them to and it was absolute evidence of the rumours we've heard about the quality of the music scene here in Ubud. On top of the great duo that they were there was also another guy in the audience who was almost as amazing. He got up and joined in with the duo for several songs and there was no karaoke going on in that place....this was pure talent and we were the recipients of a great performance/jam session.
What a fun night! What a great day! And then to see two frogs locked in the throws of passion on the way home....how could it get any better?! LOL
Definitely ready for bed tonight...Lynda is already long gone to sleep I think. So till next time,
L & L
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